Water saving device



y 12, 1966 w. E. WALKER, sR., ETAL 3,259,918

WATER SAVING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

William E. Walker. 5r. William E. Walker, Jr.

INVENTOKS BY @Mm "Mn am United States Patent 3,259,918 WATER SAVINGDEVICE William E. Walker, Sr., P.0. Box 57, Artesia Wells, Tex., andWilliam E. Walker, Jr., P.0. Box 201, Freer, Tex. Filed Dec. 21, 1964,Ser. No. 419,791 4 Claims. (Cl. 4--18) The instant invention isgenerally concerned with water closets, and more particularly relates tothe flush tanks thereof and means for effecting economies in Water whenactivating such flush tanks.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide means, whichwhen incorporated into a conventional flush tank, results in asubstantial reduction in the amount of water utilized to effect theflushing action.

In conjunction with the above object, it is also a significant object ofthe instant invention to provide an eflec- :tive means for avoiding theuse of an unnecessary amount of water in the operation of a conventionalflush tank, this being particularly desirable in those areas where wateris relatively scarce.

Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a device which canbe incorporated into a conventional flush tank without requiring amodification thereof or in any way interferring with the operation ofthe flushing equipment located therein.

In addition, an important object of the instant invention resides in thesimplicity of construction and ease of installation associated with thedevice.

Also, it is an object of the instant invention to provide for anadditional aid to the conservation of water residing in a modificationof the conventionally provided float rod.

Basically, in order to achieve the above objects, the instant inventioncontemplates the provision of a solid rectangular frame, which may be ofany suitable height, positioned in surrounding relationship to the flushtank operating mechanism and spaced inwardly from the tank wall apredetermined distance. This frame or box, open at the top and bottom,has the lower edge thereof peripherally sealed to the bottom of theflush tank, thereby forming, between the peripheral wall of the framebox and the peripheral flush tank wall, a reservoir of water which willnot be discharged through the conventional centrally located outlet upona flushing of the tank. In this maner, the amount of water dischargedthrough the outlet will be reduced by the amount of water remaining inthe reservoir formed by the box or frame, this amount varying inaccordance with the specific height of the box. In addition, rather thanproviding the conventional single piece float rod the float rod of theinstant invention is to be formed in two portions which may belongitudinally adjusted relative to each other and clamped to each otherin any of a plurality of longitudinally adjusted positions, therebyeffectively varying the length of the rod and the location of the float,this in turn varying the level of water maintained in the flush tank inan obvious manner.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a flush tank, with portions brokenaway, illustrating the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevational View of the device of theinstant invention installed within a flush tank;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a planepassing along line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detail view illustrating the manner in which the twopieces of the float rod are to be adjusted and clamped relative to eachother; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the reservoir form- 3,259,918 PatentedJuly 12, 1966 ice ing frame of the instant invention and the sealinggasket therefor.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, numeral 10 is used togenerally designate a conventional flush tank containing the flushingmechanism therein. As will be appreciated, this mechanism includes aninlet tube 12, an inlet valve 14, a filler tube 16, an overflow pipe 18,a tank ball or ball valve 20, a combination ball seat and outlet 22, alower stem 24, an upper stem 26, a stem guide 28, a trip lever 30, anexterior trip lever handle 32, a ball float 34, a float rod 36, and arefill tube 38. The only modification contemplated in thisconventionally provided structure is the formation of the float rod 36in two portions, 40 and 42, the longer portion 40 being fixed to theinlet valve in the manner of a conventional float rod, and therelatively shorter portion 42 being threaded into the float 34, also inthe conventional manner. The unsecured ends of the two portions 40 and42 are then longitudinally adjusted relative to each other and fixedlyclamped together by a clamp 44 which consists of upper and lowerclamping plates, each having a flat central portion and twosemi-cylindrical portions along the edges thereof, thesesemi-cylindrical portions receiving the two rod portions and confiningthe portions 40 and 42 against movement relative to each other upon thepassing of bolts through the flat intermediate portions, these boltseither being threaded directly into the lowermost one of the two plates,or having nuts threaded on the ends thereof. Thus, it will beappreciated that by merely loosening the clamp bolts, the length of thefloat rod 36 can be quickly and easily adjusted, thereby providing aneflective means for varying the normal level of the water within theflush tank.

While economies in the use of water can be effected through theadjustment of the length of'the float rod 36 in the manner discussedsupra, the instant invention also contemplates a more effective meansfor conserving Water while still insuring a satisfactory flushingoperation. This is achieved through the provision of a rectangular frameor box 46 having an open top and an open bottom. This box 46, as will beappreciated from the drawings, is of a size so as to completely surroundthe flushing mechanism, while at the same time being spaced inwardlyfrom the flush tank walls so as to provide for the confining of asubstantial amount of water between the rectangular box 46 and the flushtank walls which will not flow through the outlet 22 upon a flushing ofthe tank. This box 46 is to be fixed directly to the bottom of the flushtank by means of an adhesively secured gasket 48 engaged with the loweredge of the box 46 peripherally thereabout, this gasket 48 being bothadhesively secured to the box 46 and to the bottom of the tank 10. Inaddition, in order to insure a positive retention of the box 46 in watersealing relation to the bottom of the tank 10, a hold-down member 50 isprovided. This hold-down member 50 consists of an elongated flat bar 52arranged transversely of the upper end of the box 46 and resting on theopposite sides thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURES l and 2. Athreaded bolt 54 is fixed centrally to said plate 52 and projectsvertically thereabove through a horizontally projecting plate 56 fixedto one half of a two-part clamp 58 which is bolted about the overflowpipe 18 at any suitable height therealong. In addition, one or more nutsare threaded on the rod 54 and engageable with the plate 56 so as tovertically adjust the bolt 54 for bringing the bar 52 down into bearingengagement with the top of the box 46 so as to, in effect, clamp the'box 46 between the bar 52 and the bottom of the tank 10, therebyinsuring a watertight sealing of the bottom of the box 46.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the box or frame 46 isutilized so as to specifically retain a quantity of water outwardly ofthe outlet opening 22 and between the wall of the box 46 and thesurrounding flush tank wall, thereby effectively limiting the amount ofwater which will be discharged through the outlet 22 l upon a flushingof the tank, this consequently resulting in a substantial saving in theamount of water over what would normally be used in the conventionaltank not having the device of the invention mounted therein. Incidently,as will be noted from the drawings, the front wall of the box 46 issubstantially narrower than the other three walls, this being such so asto insure thatthis Wall not interfere with the movement of the ballvalve 20 and also so as to insure that it be positioned directly againstthe bottom of the tank 10, the relative closeness of the outlet to thefront wall of the flush tank necessitating the thinness of the frontwall of the box 46. While the front wall of the box 46 must necessarilybe relatively thin, it is contemplated that the remaining three walls beof a substantial thickness so as to, through the weight thereof, alsoassist in properly retaining the position of the box 46 within the tank10. In addition, inasmuch as the front wall of various types of flushtanks are of different configurations, while not specificallyillustrated, it is also contemplated that the front wall of the box 46be formed so as toconform to the front wall of the flush tank, which itmust necessarily closely follow. Finally, it should also be recognizedthat the "box 46 can be made of various different heights, as well aswidths and lengths, so as to correspond to the particular saving ofwater sought in each instance.

The foregoing is considered. as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a water closet flush tank having a bottom,'side walls, andcentrally located flushing apparatus, a wall surrounding the flushingapparatus and spaced inwardly from the flush tank wall, said secondmentioned-wall in a manner so as to exert a downward pressure thereon.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said flushing apparatus includes asectional float rod consisting of two independent elongated rod-likeportions, and means for clamping said rod-like portions together at aplurality of longitudinally adjusted positions relative to each other.

4. A water closet flush tank including a bottom, a

peripheral wall, conventional flushing apparatus includ-.

ing a central valve controlled outlet, and means for segregating aportion of the interior of the tank in a water flow restricting mannerfrom said centrally located outlet, said means comprising a verticallyprojecting irn-;

perforate frame surrounding the flushing apparatus'and sealedto thebottom of the tank, said frame Ming spaced inwardly from the flush tankwall peripherally thereabout and including an open bottom end so as toallow for the projection of the flushing apparatus therethrough.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 245,318 8/1881Robertson 4l8.5

1,475,841 11/1923 McNeil 468 2,799,865 7/ 1957 Dufault 441 LAVERNE D.GEIGER, Primary Examiner. H. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

l v i

1. IN A WATER CLOSET FLUSH TANK HAVING A BOTTOM, SIDE WALLS, ANDCENTRALLY LOCATED FLUSHING APPARATUS, A WALL SURROUNDING THE FLUSHINGAPPARATUS AND SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE FLUSH TANK WALL, SAID SECONDMENTIONED WALL BEING SEALED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FLUSH TANK IN AWATERTIGHT MANNER AND PROJECTING VERTICALLY UPWARD THEREFROM A HEIGHTSUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE HEIGHT FOR THE FLUSH TANK WALL.